Electric ignition system.



J. A. STRUTHERS.

ELECTRIC IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION rum) MAR. 10, 1913 Patented Jan 5, 1915 INVENTOR Joshua-stwfl ers ATTORNEYS 35 specification.

UN ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA A. STRUTHEBS, 0F JERSEY. CITY, NE! JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO THEFRI-UNIT ELEGTBIChL CO., -A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom, it may a citizen of the United States, residing at JerseyCity, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electric able"others skilledinthe art to which it appertains to make and use; the same, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, and tocharacters of reference narked thereon, vwhich form a part of this Thepresent inventionhasreference; generally, toi an improvedelectrical system adapted to.provide operating, power and current for 'engine starting or cranking,

lighting andignition in'connection with oinotor vehicles and theirinternal combustion engines; and the invention relates,

" more particularly, to a novel electrical system employing a dynamoelectric machine, which,-ope rating in coriinection with thesystem,vpro\ ides asingle unit for the accomplishinent of the threefunctions of the systex'n namely, engine starting, lighting andignition. 4 I

The present invention has for its principal object therefore to providea novel electric starting, lighting and ignition system for motorvehicles, the said im'ention' providing greater simplicity iii theelectrical devices and wiring system tuereof, unifying or consolidatingthe functions of an electric generator, motor and magneto in a simpledynamo electric machine, so that the ignitioi fsystem wvill alwaysoperate independent of battery connection or supply,

out disturbing-;,it5 alue as a regular igni-e tion magneto'fortheinitial ignition current supply, thesamn subsequently operating asSpecification of Letters {Patent invention in view, the same ELECTRICIGNITION SYSTEM.

- Patented Jan. 5, 1915 Application filed mam; i0, 191:. Serial no.753,227.

a. generator and magneto combined, thereby charging the storagebatteriesand at the 1;

same time continuing to supply ignition current, the batteries beingused for a source. of motor current supply and for'lighting currentsupply only. i v 7 Other objects of the present invention not at thistime more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from thefollowing detailed description of thejp resent in vention.

Vlith the various objects of-P the present marily, in the novelelectrical system for; supplying operating current for engine 3starting, ignition and lighting hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore,thisinv'ention consists in the novel arrangements,relations andcombinations of the minus-- de-. vices and parts and their.electricalcennections, as well as in the details of thd'cbnstruction.and arrangements or thsame, all.

of which will be hereinafter more '7 scribed in the followingspecification, m1

then finally embodied in the clauses ofthe claim which are appended towhich"; form an essential part of this specification-{ The invention isclearly illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which the novel.

electrical system for supplyingloperating current for engine starting,ignition and lighting is illustrated in electricaldiagrammatlcrepresentation.

Referring now to the said draw ng, the reference-ch11racter 1 indicatesthe field cores of the novel dynamo electric machine element employedwith the novel electrical system embodying the" principles of thepresent invention. These field cores are prcferably made of semi-steelso that the same may be magnetically charged to retain a certain amountof residual magnetism for the purposes subsequently to be disclosed.

The sa'idlieldcores 1 are prodded with a motor series field winding 2.

The reference-aharacter 3 Indicates a set of storage batteries,comprising, preferably,

'a plurality of cells coupled in series- Connccted with one pole of saidset of batteries 3 is a wire conductor 4. Electrically joining said wireconductor 4, at 5, is a wire conductor 6 which vis connectedelectrically with one end 7 of said motor series field winding 2. Theother end 8 of said motor commutator brush 9 of the armature 11.Connected with the other commutator brush 10 of the armature 11 is awire conductor 12, to which is electrically joined at 13 the return wireconductor 14 leading to the opposite pole of said battery set 3.

A circuit controlling switch mechanism 15 is connected in the conductor6, or at any other suitable or convenient point in the battery-motorfield winding circuit just described.

In addition to said motor series field winding 2 saidfield cores 1 areprovided with a generator field winding 16, one end 17 of the same beingconnected with said commu tator' brush 10 of the armature 11. Connectedwith said commutatorbrush 9 of the armature 11 is a generator circuitwire or conductor 18. Connected in the line of said generator circuitwire or conductor 18 is a normally closed regulator switch mechanismcomprising a pivotal switch-arm 19 connected electrically with saidcircuit wire or conductor 18, the same being provided with a contactpiece 20, and a spring, or other suitable device, 21 connected with saidswitch-arm 19 for the purpose of maintaining said contact piece 20 innormally closed contact with a stationary contact piece 22. Saidswitch-arm 19 is further provided with an armature piece 23. Mountedadjacent to said switch-arm 1 9 is a magnet-core 24, the same beingwound with a magnetizing coil 25 the terminals of which are electricallyconnected in said circuit formed by the wire or conductor 18. Connectedwith said stationary contactpiece 22 is a wire conductor 26 whichconnects electrically with the other end 27 of said generator fieldwinding 16, thus making. said generator field winding shunt wound withrelation to the armature l1 and, the external generator circuit. Abridging fixed resistance 28 is connected be tween said circuit wire orconductor 18 and said wire conductor 26. the line of said generatorcircuit wire or conductor 18 is a normally open regulator switchmechanism comprising, a pivotal switch-arm '29 connected electricallywith said circuit wire or conductor 18, the same being provided with acontact piece 30, and a spring, or other similar device, 31 connectedwith said switch-arm 29 for the purpose of maintaining said contactpiece 30 normally separated from electrical contact with a stationarycontact-piece 32. Said switch-arm 29 is further provided with anarmature-piece 33. Mounted adjacent to said switch-arm 29 is amagnet-core 34, the same being wound with a magnetizing coil oneterminal of which is electrically con nected with said generator circuitwire or conductor 18, and the other terminal of which connectselectrically with a return circuit wire or conductor 36 which joins saidAlso connected in I One or more cut-out switch mechanisms, as

62, may be provided for controlling the opening or closing of the lampcircuits, as will be clearly understood.

The armature 11 of the dynamo electric machine is of ordinaryconstruction as far as the functions of its motor and generator windingsor COIlS are concerned, said windings or coils being connected with thesegments of the armature commutator in the usual manner, but the saidarmature is pro vided, in addition to the usual windings or coils, witha single winding or coil which may be termed the magneto winding orcoil, as indicated at -12, which serves to supply magneto-generatedcurrent to an ign1ti0n system. This magneto winding or coil 42 isconnected by one of its terminals or ends 43 with a single segment ofthe commutator of the armature, the opposite terminal or end 44 of thesame being grounded upon the armature core 45 and armature-shaft 46. Themagneto current delivered to the seg ment of the armature commutator, towhich the said magneto winding or coil 42 is connected, is collectedtherefrom by the commutator brush 10 and passes therefrom along theprimary circuit wire or conductor 4? of the ignition system to theprimary winding 48 of the transformer coil 49, the opposite end of saidprimary winding of said transformer coil 49 being connected by the wireconductor 50 to the stationary contact member 51 of the make and breakor interrupter device 52, the movable arm 53 of which is; connect edwith ground, so that the primary circuit is returned 1 through ground tothe grounded end of said magneto winding or coil 42. Connected with saidtransformer coil-4t) is the usual condenser 54. The secondary winding ofsaid transformer coil 49 is connected with the secondary circuit wire orconductor. 56 leading to the rotary brush 57 of thev distributer 58.Connected .with the contactmembers 59 of the said distribnter are thesecondary circuit wires or conductors 60 leading to the spark plugs orterminals 61 connected with the engine cylinders, the latter beingconnected in ground so that said secondary current returns or iscompleted through ground to the grounded mechanism the battery currentflowsthrough the conductor 6 into the motor field .windings 2 andexcites the field cores 1 to exert the magnetic pull upon the armature11 to rotate the same and its shaft 46, the circuit being completedthrough the arms.-

ture and its commutator back to the bat-- Leries 3 through theconductors 12 and 14. The shaft 46 of the dynamo electric machine may bemechanicall connected and disconnected at will with the crank-shaft orfly-wheel of an internal combustion engine. When the dynamo electricmachineis operating as a motor its shaft 46 serves as a prime mover forthe purpose of starting or cranking an internal combustion engine. Whenthe shaft 4-6 of the dynamo electric mQchine is mechanically driven, themachine serves as a dynamo or generator for generating current torecharge storage-batteries, and to supply current for ignition purposesOne of the novel features of the present invention lies in thecombination with or consolidation in the dynamo electric machine of thesystem of means equivalent to magneto-generation of ignition currentwhich operates at all times, whether the dynamo electric machine isperforming either the function of a motor or a generator, hence when thedynamo electric machine is operating as a motor the said magnetogenerating elements thereof will operate to furnish current to anignition system for an internal combustion engine.

As above stated, said field-cores l. of the inotongenerator are made ofsemi-steel and arc charged with a certain amount of residual magnetism.As the araniature 11 is rotated under the magnetic pull of field cores1, which is induced by the motor-field windings 2, as excited bythestorage battery current flowing therethrough, the speial nu'ignctowinding or coil 42 connected with said armature 11 is also rotated andcaused to pass through the flux of lines of conductor 47 to thetransformer coil 49 and condenser 54, said primary current beinginterrupted or broken by the mechanical operation of the make and breakor interrupter 52, so that the high tension secondary current is inducedin said transformer coil and passed to said distributor 58, whereby thesame is properly distributed to the spark terminals or plugs 61. Whenthe switch-mechanism 15 is thrown to break the motor supply current fromthe battery set 3, and the armature shaft 46 is mechanically driven, thesaid armature 11 is mechanically rotated thereby, so as to cause thedynamo electric machine to now operate as a dynamo or generator for thepurpose of generating direct current for restoring the battery set 3,and when desirable to sup 1y lighting current direct to the lamps 41. hegenerator field winding 16 of the field cores 1 being shunt wound inconnection with-the armature and external generator circuit, it will, ofcourse, be gradually excited to produce the proper flux of magneticlines from pole to pole of the field cores to be cut by the armaturewindings so that the .circuit leading from bush to bush of the commu-,tator will soon receive the desired flow of current.

The propercharging of the batteries 3 is automatically regulated andcontrolled by the normally closed and normally open regulator switchesconnected in the external circuit leading from the generator.Thesecontrolling devices are set or arranged to operate to pass currentto the batteries or lights when the speed of the ear becomesapproximately ten miles an hour, although this is subject to variationso that the normal operation or flow of the gencratorcircuit will takeplace at any other desired speed. \Vhen the car is running underordinary conditions at ten miles per hour for example, the generatorarmature 11 will be driven at a speed to produce a voltage suliicient tocharge the battery 3 or supply lighting current to the lamps 41. \Vhenthe car runs at a lower speed the generator circuit s completed throughthe conductors i8, 36 and 12, and is therefore by passed and doesnotfiow to batteries 3 because the normally open regulator switch whichcontrols the flow of the same to the said batteries or lamps remainsopen. \Vhenyhowever, the voltage generated by the dynamo or generatorbecomes high enough for charging the batteries or lighting the lamps,the coil on the magnet core 34 is sufficiently excited to induce enoughmagnetism in said core 34 to attract thereto the armature ad of thepivotal switch-arm 29, thereby moving said switcharm to carry itscontact-piece 30 into circuit closing contact with said stati arycontact-piece 32. thus permitting the generated current to flow to thebatteries 3 through the conductors 1'8, 38 and 4, the circuit beingcompleted through the conductors 1e and 12. Thus the generator begins tocharge the batteries 3, or, if the switch mechanism 62 is closed, thecurrent may flow to the lamps 41. .aOf course, it will be evident thatthe voltage generated by thean excessof the required voltage tending tocause excessive sparking at the commutator brushes, excess current inamperes and consequent commutator trouble, undue wear and heating of thegenerator bearings, and overcharging of the batteries 3 which would bedetrimental thereto. In order to guard against these detrimental effectsthe said normally closed regulator switch mechanism is provided andserves, by its operation, to decrease the strength or excitation of the.generator field winding, a consequent decrease of the fink of magneticlines traveling from pole to pole of the fieldcores 1 and therefore adecrease in the output of current flowing into the generator circuitoccurs. This result is attained as follows:If the generator currentpassing into the coil 25 of the magnet core 24 reaches a certain heightin its flow, sayfor example ten' amperes which would be theusualpractice, the current in excess is sufiicient to charge said coil25 enough to magnetize the core A so that it will attract the armaturemember 23 of the pivotal switcharm 19, swinging or moving the latter tocarry its contact-piece 20 away from circuit closing conflict with saidstationary contact-piece 23 so that the resistance member 28 is insertedin the shunt circuit of the said generator field windings'lG, theresistance offered thereby to the flow of exciting.current in the shuntcircuit decreasing the same and weakening the field cores 1, so that thelines of magnetic llux passing from pole to pole of the field cores 1are reduced. and consequently the amount of current generated anddelivered through the generator circuit is also decreased. Thisoperation results in lessening the current delivered to the batteries orlights, as the case may be. When the current is lessened to the normalor predetermiiu'd amount, the coil 25 does not magnctize the magnet core24 enough to overcome the pull or tension of-spring 21 connected withsaid switcharm 19, and consequently said spring pulls the switch-arm 19back to. its normal initial position, again closing the contact of saidcontact pieces 20 and 22 and permitting the full flow of current throughthe shunt circuit of the generator field winding unobstructed by saidresistance 28, so that the full strength of the field cores is restored,and consequently the generated current tends to increase again in thegenerator circuit. Under ordinary operating conditions the saidswitch-arm 19 will vibrate in this manner so rapidly as to maintain thegenerated current normal or constant. In the event the engine speedbecomes so low that the generatorcannot deliver enough current to chargethe batteries 3 or furnish power to the lamps 41, the magnetism of thecore 3l caused by the current flowing through its coil 35 is so weakenedthat it cannot hold said switch-arm 29 and its contact-piece 30 incircuit closing contact with the stationary contact piece 32 against thepull or tension of the spring 31; consequently the current isinterrupted or broken, and is by-passed through the conductors 36 and 12back to the generator until the current is restored to proper strengthfor battery charging or lighting. In the event the lights are burning oroperating at such time the battery current will automatically take upthe burden of supplying the same with current necessary to theiroperation. While the said dynamo electric machine is performing itsfunctions of a generator in the manner above described, it must beunderstood that the magneto coil 42 of the armature 11 continuesconstantly to supply magneto generated ignition current to the ignitionsystem in the manner also above described, said magneto function of themotor continuing uninterrupted both when the'dynamo electric machineserves as a motor and as a generator.

The said motor field winding) is of a comparatively coarse gage of wire,preferably number 2, and the said generator field winding 16 is of afiner gage of wire, preferably number 24:. In the same manner, theordinary armature coils or windings are of coarser wire than the magnetocoil or wind ing 42, the former being preferably of number 14 gage andthe latter being preferably of number 27 gage. Of course, I do not limitmyself to the use of such gages in the respective windings, but merelyoffer the same as an example of comparative winding values foundserviceable, since the same may each or all be varied according to thecircumstances of use or the capacity desired of the respective elementsof said dynamo electric machine. It will be also clearly understood thatI do not limit myself to the exact arrangement of interconnectingconduct/ors leading between the several elements of the novel systemembodying the principles of this invention, but hold -t o be 'within thespirit and scope of my invention any arrangement. of interconnectingconductors by means of which the novel correlation of thesaid severalelements and cir erator field winding, an armature having acommutator, amagneto armature winding upon said armature independent of the ordinarywinding of the latter, and a sparkingcircuit electrically connectedthrough certain of the segments of said-commutator of said armature withsaid magnet-o armature. winding and leadingto the spark-plug of aninternal combustion engine, said sparkingcircuit being energized fromsaid magneto armature winding whensaid dynamo electric machine isoperated as a motor. for initial sparking, and said sparking circuitcontinuing to be energized from'said magneto armature winding when thedynamo electric machine is driven as a. dynamo.

2. In an electric system of the kind de scribed, a dynamo electricmachine, a storagebattery set, means connecting said stor age batteryset .in series with said dynamo electric machine to operate the same asa motor, means connecting said storage battery set in circuit with saiddynamo electric machine to receive the generated current therefrom, aplurality of electric lamps connected in the supply circuit of saiddynamo electric machine, means connected with the a matu e 0f a d dynamoelectric machine for generating a magneto induced ignition current-uponthe rotation of said armature, and anignition circuit system fordelivermg sm to the spark-plugs of an internal combustion englne 3. Inan electric system of-the kind de scribed, a dynamo electric machineprovided with field-cores having residual-magnetism, a motorfield-winding connected with said field-cores, a generator field-windingconnected with said field cores, an armature rotatably mounted betweenthe poles of said field-cores, a storage battery set, a motor circuitleadin between said motor field winding and sand storage battery set,means for oneningand closing said motor circuit, a generator circuitconnected with said armature, a shunt circuit connecting said generatorfield winding with said genmagneto induced ignition current atorcircuit, a normally closed automatic regulator switch between saidgenerator cir- Cjnit and said shunt circuit of the generatorfield-winding, a fixed resistance between said generator circuit andsaid shunt circuit operating when said normally closed automaticregulator switch is opened, means connecting said battery set in saidgenerator circuit, a normally open automatic regulator switch connectedin said generator circuit for controlling the flow current to saidbattery set, a lighting circuit connected in common with said batteryset and said generator circuit, means for opening and closing saidlighting circuit, means connected with saidiarmature of said-dynamoelectric machine for'genemting a magneto induced ignition current, andan electrical ignition system supplied by said magneto induced ignitioncurrent.

4. In an electric system of the kind descrilvwl, a dynamo electricmachine provided with ficldcores having residual magnetism, a. motorfield-winding connected with said field-cores. a generator field-windingconnected with said field-cores, an armature rotatably mounted betweenthe poles of said field-cores, a storage battery set, a motor circuitleading between said motor field winding and said storage battery set,means for opening and closing said motor circuit, a generator circuitconnected with said armatu re, a shunt circuit connecting said generatorfield winding with said-generator circuit, a normallv closed automaticregulator switch betwee said generator circuit and said shunt circuit ofthe generator field-V winding, a fixed resistance between said generatorcircuit and said shunt circuit operating when said normally closedautomaticregulator switch is opened, means connecting said battery setin said generator cir-' cuit, a normally open automatic regulator switchconnected in said generator circuit for controlling the flow current tosaid battery set, a lighting circuit connected in common with saidbattery set and said generator circuit, mean's for opening and closingsaid lighting circult, a magneto a rmature winding on said armature oneend ofthe same being grounded on the armature core and the other endconnected with a segment of the armature commutator, said magnetoarmature winding being adapted to cut the flux of residual" magnetismflowing from pole to pole'of said-field cores to generate a magnetoinduced current, and an electrical ignition system supplied by saidmagneto induced ignition current.

5. In an electrical system of the kind described, a dynan' o electricmachine compris-. ing field cores having residual magnet-ism, a motorfield winding and a generator field winding on said 'field cores, arotatable armature shaft, an armature core mounted on said shaftprovided with ordinary armature windings, a commutator connected withsaid armature, windings,commutator brushes en-- said generator circuit,a magneto armature winding mounted on said armature core, one end ofsaid magneto armature winding being grounded on said armature core'andthe other end of the same being connected with a segment of saidcommutator, said magneto armature winding being adapted to cut the fluxof residual magnetism flowing from pole to pole of said field cores togenerate a magneto induced current, when saidarmature rotates, and anelectrical ignition system connected with one brush of said commutatorsupplied by said magneto induced ignition current. a

6. In an electrical system of the kind described, a dynamo electricmachine comprising field cores having residual magnetism,a motorfieldwinding and a generator field winding on said field cores, a rotatablearmature shaft, an armature core mounted on said shaft protided withordinary armature windings, a commutator connected with. said armaturewindings, commutator brushes engaging said commutator, a storage batteryset connected in series with said motor-generator field winding, agenerator circuit leading from said commutator brushes, means connectingsaid storagebattery set in said generator circuit, a magneto armaturewinding mounted on said armature core, one end of said magneto armaturewinding being grounded on said armature core and the other end of thesame being connected with a segment of said commutator, said magnetoarmature winding being adapted to cut the flux of residual magnetismflowing from pole to pole of said field cores to generate a magnetoinduced current when said armature rotates, an electrical ignitionsystem connected with one brush of said eoinmw tater supplied by saidmagneto induced ignition current, and an electric lighting circuitconnected in common with said external armature windings, commutatorbrushes en-- gaging said commutator, a storage battery set, ahmotorcircuit leading between said motor field winding and said storagebattery set, means for opening and closing said motor circuit, agenerator circuit connected with said commutator brushes of saidarmature, a shunt circuit connecting said generator field winding withsaid generator circuit, a normally closed automatic regulator switchbetween said generator circuit and said shunt circuit of said generatorfield winding, a fixed resistance between said generator circuit andsaid shunt circuit operating when said normally closed' automaticregulator switch is opened, means connecting said battery set in saidgenerator circuit, a normal open automatic regulator switch connected insaid generator circuit for controlling the fiow of current to saidbattery set, a magneto armature winding mounted on said armature core,one end of said ma neto armature windingbeing grounded on said armaturecore and the other end of the same being connected with a segment ofsaid commutator, said magneto armature winding being adapted to cut theflux of residual magnetism flowing from pole to pole of said field coresto generate a magneto induced current when said armature rotates, and anelectric ignition system connected .with one brush of said commutatorsupplied by said magneto induced ignition current In testimony, that Iclaim the invention set forth above I have hereunto setmy hand this 6thday of March, 1913.

JOSHUA A. s'rRUTnEns.

\Vitnesses:

FILEDK. C. FaAEN'rzEL, 'Fnsnn. H. W'. FaAEx'rznL.

